Opportunities and Tensions in New Zealand Organisations: The Individual and the Organisation in Development

Abstract

This paper is the first step in a much larger project investigating the development of human capability for New Zealand workplaces. The paper reports the findings of a pilot case study conducted in a local manufacturing organisation that had a good reputation for initiatives in human capability development. The study explored the factors that helped and hindered individuals in developing skills and capabilities in the workplace. The findings showed that three key features of organisational infrastructure drove and shaped capability within this manufacturing organisation: self directed teams, a company skills matrix linked to pay, and a production and quality management system. The study is discussed in light of a selection of the literature on workplaces and capability development. The paper explores the interaction of individual and organisational factors in the development of human capability, particularly self-esteem and workplaces as learning environments.